Thats like 3 or 4 straight games without a sack for Carlos Dunlap. For someone who gets to go up against the lesser of the two tackles and rarely gets chipped, he's really doing a great job (twice against rookies no less). 1 sack in 5 games whilst MJ had another tonight. Maybe we do need a DE, I just don't see MJ as this huge problem. Hell even Robert Geathers had a sack n Dunlap did not. Not to mention the fact that Carlos is generally **** against the run. The fact that Geathers even sees the field as much as he does at LDE is disconcerting. I love both MJ and 96 and think they can have a bright future but damn.

Anyway, almost every spot on this team besides WR1 and our two OTs could probably use an upgrade. We just suck plain and simple. Even Dalton is starting to worry me a bit.

Thats like 3 or 4 straight games without a sack for Carlos Dunlap. For someone who gets to go up against the lesser of the two tackles and rarely gets chipped, he's really doing a great job (twice against rookies no less). 1 sack in 5 games whilst MJ had another tonight. Maybe we do need a DE, I just don't see MJ as this huge problem. Hell even Robert Geathers had a sack n Dunlap did not. Not to mention the fact that Carlos is generally **** against the run. The fact that Geathers even sees the field as much as he does at LDE is disconcerting. I love both MJ and 96 and think they can have a bright future but damn.

Anyway, almost every spot on this team besides WR1 and our two OTs could probably use an upgrade. We just suck plain and simple. Even Dalton is starting to worry me a bit.

The problem with Dalton is that Gresham is a ***** and we have no #2 right now. Teams key on AJ and no one else gets open.

The back of of the defense is obviously the weakest part of that side of the ball. Offensively, we need to surround AJ with someone who can at least frighten the opposing defense to consider covering them. Without any other "threat," Green will be forever blanketed. We also need a RB that's worth a damn in the worst way.

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worker bees can leave
even drones can fly away
the queen is their slave

Even with the fact that he was blanketed all night I do think they still should've at least tried a few more shots down field to him. He might be the best Bengals player ever already (aside from Munoz) and we just could not get him the ball to save our lives. Its not like Pitt even has a very good secondary and taking a shot like that could at the very least draw a PI call that could get us going a little bit. This is part of the reason why I wanted to keep Jerome. It wouldn't have cost us much and say what you will about him but he at the very least can make a defense have to account for him with his speed.

Love Baby Hawk but he's not a deep threat, perhaps we have one in Marvin Jones but he went down unfortunately, Tate and Binns are just possession receivers, and for some reason we seem to hate to throw it to TEs in this offense. My only real gripe with Gruden's gameplan was his attempt to feature Ryan Whalen. Apparently Jones was supposed to get a lot more playing time, shame he was out because he can stretch the field if need be.

Soo frustrating right now because we all know that this is a very talented team but it just seems like they don't have that killer instinct like they showed glimpses of last year. The fact that we cannot stop the run up the middle because of Luga is just atrocious. With the deep and talented group we have up front(especially on the interior) stopping the run should be our bread and butter but its not. The Stillers were DEAD LAST in rushing coming into this game and they ran all over us with 3rd and 4th and 5th string RBs and a decimated OL. I feel like if Thomas Howard were still in play Maualuga would not see the field at all. Only good thing to come of this is that Vontaze Burfict has shown he can be a force at LB for us for the foreseeable future.

I don't how anyone can be worse than Luga but I haven't really paid much attention to Manny. Joe Reedy seemed to agree with that notion I said before with Howard being healthy and Rey not seeing the field. He's a butt muncher though so take that FWIW.

I don't how anyone can be worse than Luga but I haven't really paid much attention to Manny. Joe Reedy seemed to agree with that notion I said before with Howard being healthy and Rey not seeing the field. He's a butt muncher though so take that FWIW.

Agree about Reedy being a butt muncher.
Lawson gets the benefit of being the one getting subbed by guys like Skuta, VRey and the like.

Well Burfict was getting subbed like that too his first few games, which is understandable since he was playing a new position for the first time in his life. Would rather see Skuta in the middle than Luga though.

When you have a talent like Green, it makes no sense to not throw the ball and allow the kid to make plays. Every team does it. Gresham has to start stepping up and play like a Pro instead of some stiff. ML has to coach and quit making these absolutely stupid challenges that costs us TOs. Burfict was a real solid sign. It doesn't say much for this defense that Burfict is our best LBer being an undrafted rookie and he plays like a stud but ML doesn't think Dre can step in and play better than Newman? I think the DB coaches tell them guys to just don't get beat deep because every time our D holds them on first and second down, our DBs allow an easy catch and run for 1st downs. This was sickening to watch vs Steelers.

I wasn't necessarily heaping praise on Skuta, nor do I think he's very good, but it is VERY clear that we need something different at MLB because Rey Maualuga just can't do it. Hell, I bet Geno Atkins could be a better MLB than him.

Oh I agree but saying he isn't good because of Peko isn't right either. It's not like Rey is getting doubled at the second level on every play. Linebackers are supposed to be able take on a blocker, disengage, and make a tackle. He does not do that. He doesn't do it when he's not being blocked either.

Oh I agree but saying he isn't good because of Peko isn't right either. It's not like Rey is getting doubled at the second level on every play. Linebackers are supposed to be able take on a blocker, disengage, and make a tackle. He does not do that. He doesn't do it when he's not being blocked either.

I wasn't saying that.
I'm saying it starts up front. We aren't winning that battle so I dont have hopes our LB will play well until we do.
Rey wont be back next year and the team seems like they packed it in so Im just cruising until then.

I would like to see B Thompson put in there, I have seen him play a bunch at Clemson and always thought his biggest asset was controlling the line. From the plays I saw Still in there, he did a decent job but Brandon is much different player with his strength/leverage. I also like to see Mock, Kirkpatrick and Allen play next week to see what impact they can bring, Peyton will torch Newman.

On offense, we have become almost 1 dimensional in our passing game, we have to find ways of getting the ball to baby hawk & Gresham so AJ gets a chance at some more looks. Besides the first series,our run game continues to fissile. Maybe Sanu will step up, someone needs too. We need to stay on the field or its going to be disappointing Nov/Dec for us.